Dartmouth's 350th Gala was a big success

Wednesday

Mar 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM

DARTMOUTH — Dartmouth residents are ready to celebrate the town's latest anniversary, and they celebrated in style Saturday night at the 350th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Hawthorne Country Club.

CHRISTINA STYAN

DARTMOUTH — Dartmouth residents are ready to celebrate the town's latest anniversary, and they celebrated in style Saturday night at the 350th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Hawthorne Country Club.

Saturday's night gala drew a sold out crowd and heralded the official beginning of six months of festivities organized by the Dartmouth 350 Committee. After the bountiful hors d'oeuvres served at 6 p.m., guests enjoyed the family style dinner of chicken piccata, New England scrod and vegetable stir-fry. DJ Jay Mello provided the music for dancing afterwards, and the evening was completed with a Chinese auction and desserts by Dee Dee's Delights.

"Yes, it was my idea, and I thank my Gala Committee for the decorations and their help. We sold 360 tickets... and more people wanted tickets at the last minute," noted happy 350th Gala Committee Chairperson Lynn Medeiros.

The program booklet for the event was filled with the names of dozens of sponsors, and contained some historical notes. Over 90 local businesses provided raffle items for the gala. The cover featured a picture of the Dartmouth town seal, adopted April 3, 1893, along with the town motto Utile Dulci, which means service through kindness and peaceful means.

Looking back at the last anniversary celebration, the 1964 Dartmouth Tercentenary schedule recalled the beginning of that celebration on May 2, 1964 with "A Miss Dartmouth Pageant" at Dartmouth High School, and a July 19 Anniversary Gala at Lincoln Park with dancing to the music of Lester Lanin's Orchestra.

In 1964, Peter Grinnell was chairperson of the Tercentenary Committee; for the 350th celebration, Dartmouth Community Television Director Cynthia Marland is the chair. Ms. Elsie Haskell, listed in the 1964 "Dartmouth Tercentenary Souvenir Booklet" as being on the Tercentenary Committee, was on hand Saturday night with her husband, and was excited to attend the 350th gala on Saturday, nearly 50 years after the first event.

The Brothers of the Brush members were also present at this year's gala in their finery; the beard-growing contest was originally part of Dartmouth's 300th anniversary celebration in 1964. Chairperson Tom Brooks said as of Saturday, 116 Dartmouth men had officially signed up for the new contest.

"Everything is going well. We are having a meeting of the Brothers at the Crossroad VFW at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday (March 29). We are going to make plans for June 8," when the town is planning an official incorporation celebration, he advised. Prizes will be given in a variety of beard categories at that event.

The 12 categories include beards that are the longest, the ugliest, or similar in style to Fu Manchu, Abe Lincoln. or a grizzly bear. For those who have trouble growing luxuriant facial hair, peach fuzz is another category.

At the gala, resident George Ripley admitted that he left his application at home, but said he will be filling it out and adding his name to the list of competitors. "I have a permanent beard, and maybe could win the darkest beard prize," he noted hopefully.

Scott Ciardi said at the gala that he started growing his beard about two months ago. "I keep trimming it and would like to be clean cut... (but) I would like to win the most distinguished look. It is fun," he suggested.

There is still to participate and download the contest application or pick up a hard copy at the Town Clerk's Office, the DCTV studio at 247 Russells Mills Road, or by contacting Mr. Brooks at (508) 994-6606 or e-mail to: cleobro@aol.com.

The 350th committee still has room for volunteers. If anyone is interest in volunteering or has any ideas for the town's big celebration, they can contact the 350th Committee by e-mail to: 350@.dartmouth.ma.us or by calling (508) 984-1359.